F-35 Lightning II (2) testing and production thread

Found an interesting picture of the first hookup with the NKC-135. They flew the -135 out to Fort Worth for in flight refueling testing. The pilot said that it's twice as easy to connect as an F-16.

What I find interesting is the position of the control surfaces.

First JSF Fighter Jet Will Cost EUR 110 Million

www.defense-aerospace.com...

The first [Dutch] test Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) jet will cost almost just under EUR 110m which is within budget, says junior defence minister Jack de Vries in a letter to parliament on Monday, reports the Trouw.

in related news to the above:

www.defense-aerospace.com...

The coalition parties have agreed to delay until 2010 a final decision concerning Dutch participation in the program’s operational test and evaluation phase. However, the Cabinet was authorized to negotiate contractual terms for the construction of an initial test aircraft. But, formally, nothing is to be purchased this year.

[edit on 24/4/09 by Harlequin]

Why do they even need to purchase a bloated (price) LRIP aircraft? Isn't the expedited F-35 (by Gates) enough? Think they have better things to spend 200 million quid on instead of two "test" aircraft...

[edit on 24/4/2009 by C0bzz]

Originally posted by C0bzz
Why do they even need to purchase a bloated (price) LRIP aircraft? Isn't the expedited F-35 (by Gates) enough? Think they have better things to spend 200 million quid on instead of two "test" aircraft...

[edit on 24/4/2009 by C0bzz]

It is very important that we participate in the test phase and buy these "test" planes in order to get the later "orders"....there are a couple of companies, Stork aerospace, Thales Cryogenics which provide wiring and stirling coolers for the aircraft, and thus lots of employment..its crazy they postpone all these decisions, they still want to choose between the 35, the grippen and maybe even fly longer with the F16

reply to post by Foppezao


except that its allready been shown that other than the US companies and a few outside of the usa , no one elses countries are benefitting at all from the F-35 , all the promises are worthless

reply to post by Foppezao


None of the other partner nations have to spend any money on expensive LRIP aircraft. They should postpone till the F-35 turns out as good as they say it is & Lockheed gives them a firm price - instead of prices "without an engine" that keep changing.

except that its allready been shown that other than the US companies and a few outside of the usa , no one elses countries are benefitting at all from the F-35 , all the promises are worthless

I spoke to some engineers for a company that manufactures ground support for the F-35 here in Australia. They sure are benefiting...

[edit on 25/4/2009 by C0bzz]